After your baby develops the strength to hold his head up, he'll learn to roll over. This means your baby can flip from lying on his back to being on his tummy and vice versa. Rolling over is one of your baby's first steps towards becoming mobile.

When will my baby be able to roll over?

Your baby will probably be able to roll over when he's about six months or seven months, when his neck and arm muscles are strong enough. Some babies manage to roll over as early as three months, but other babies take longer than seven months.

Your baby may take you by surprise by suddenly getting the hang of rolling over. This is why it is so important never to leave your baby unattended when changing his nappy on a raised surface. Just in case, it may be a good idea to get into the habit of changing his nappy while he is lying on the floor.

How will my baby learn to roll over?

Newborn to two months

Giving your baby tummy time from day one will start helping your baby to develop the muscles he needs to learn to roll over (AAP 2011, APCP nd). Tummy time encourages your baby to move his arms and legs, and it will also boost his neck strength.

You may find your baby does not like being on his tummy at first. Being in this new position can be a strange experience for him. If this is the case, you could try laying him in this position for just a minute or so at a time (AAP 2011). Giving your baby tummy time while lying on your chest or in the rugby hold could be a good alternative until he gets used to the sensation (APCP nd).

If your baby really doesn't like being on his tummy, just try it again another time. Get right down on the floor with him, and wiggle a favourite toy just out of his reach. Distracting him and making a game of it will help him to enjoy being on his tummy.

Three months to four months

When you put your baby on his tummy at three months, he may be able to lift his head and shoulders off the floor using his arms (NHS 2013, Sheridan 2008: 9). This mini push-up helps him strengthen the muscles he'll use to roll over. At this point he may amaze you, and himself, by flipping from his back to his front, or vice versa.

Encourage your baby to push up with his arms by dangling a toy just above his head. This will tempt him to raise himself by straightening his arms to see the toy better. You could also try holding a toy at his eye-level a short distance away. This will encourage him to push up and reach for the toy.

Five months to seven months

Your baby may be able to lift his head, push up on his arms, and arch his back to lift his chest off the ground. He may also rock on his stomach, kick his legs, and swim with his arms.

All of this exercise strengthens his muscles. By the time your baby is about six months or seven months old, he's likely to have learned to roll over in both directions (Sheridan 2008: 12).

You may find your baby never really rolls over. He may skip that move and progress straight to sitting and crawling. Or he may adopt rolling over as the best method to make his way around a room. As long as your baby continues to gain new skills, and shows interest in getting around and exploring, he's making great progress.

Once my baby can roll over, what will he do next?

The muscles your baby uses to roll over are mostly the same as the ones he uses to crawl and sit unsupported. When your baby has perfected the roll, his neck, back, legs, and arms will get stronger.

By about eight months, he'll be able to sit up without any support. Around the same time, or a little later, your baby may then start to bottom shuffle or crawl around the house (Sheridan 2008: 16).

How can I encourage my baby to roll over?

You can encourage your baby's new skill through play. If you notice him rolling over spontaneously, wiggle a toy next to the side he usually rolls to. If he manages to roll towards the toy, applaud his efforts and smile. He may need your reassurance because this new body flip can be alarming.

Once your baby starts rolling, try to encourage him to roll in both directions. This will help him to develop balanced muscles on each side of his body. Use a well-loved toy to motivate your baby to roll in the direction he favours least.

Rolling over is a milestone that will probably amuse you both, and watching your baby discover this new ability can be amazing. Of course, while rolling over is fun for him, it could be nerve-racking for you. Once your baby starts wriggling and rolling, you may want to start keeping a hand on him during nappy changes .

My baby is six months old and can't roll over yet. Should I be concerned?

If your baby hasn't worked out how to roll over when he's about six months or seven months old, mention it to your doctor or health visitor.

Babies develop skills differently, some more quickly than others, and some babies never really take to rolling over. If your baby isn’t rolling over, and hasn't moved on to sitting, bottom-shuffling, or crawling, ask your doctor about it.

Keep in mind that if your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), he may reach this, and other milestones, a little later (Hall and Elliman 2006).

My little one was born prem at 35 weeks. In 8 weeks she rolled over to one side. So much that i struggled to get her to do tummy time coz she wants to roll over all the time. Now she is 13 weeks and rolls both ways. She has also for 2 weeks now been sitting unsupported for short periods. She is really strong and loves all the praise she gets when doing new things. But she is totally not interested in toys and still does not want to hold a rattle or soft toy. So this is my mission this month... finding a toy that she likes enough to want to hold.

My little one was born prem at 35 weeks. In 8 weeks she rolled over to one side. So much that i struggled to get her to do tummy time coz she wants to roll over all the time. Now she is 13 weeks and rolls both ways. She has also for 2 weeks now been sitting unsupported for short periods. She is really strong and loves all the praise she gets when doing new things. But she is totally not interested in toys and still does not want to hold a rattle or soft toy. So this is my mission this month... finding a toy that she likes enough to want to hold.

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